Heat exchanger



Feb. 13, 1934. E. M. ODONNELL 1,947,098

' HEAT EXCHANGER Filed May 22, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A n K M Y r Q Q s l f w T z z d. w- =& 0 um I... INVENTOR. =9. I Em 7:11.17"

* 5 BY W Z 1 ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 13, 1934. E. M. ODONNELL HEAT EXCHANGER Filed may 22, 1953 Z'S heetS-Sheet 2 INVEgVTOR.

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Patented Feb. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to heat exchangers and especially to improvements on the heat exchanger disclosed in my former Patent Number 1,626,869, issued May 3rd, 1927.

5 In the operation of heat exchangers, particularly in creameries, or the like, where great quantities of milk are heated for purposes of pasteurization, or otherwise, accessibility for repair, cleaning, sterilization, etc., are important in factors; also different parts of the mechanism, such as end closures, etc., must be readily opened or removable for inspection and accessibility when working. i

The object of the present invention is to generaliy improve and simplify the construction of heatexchangers to facilitate ease of operation and to promote accessibility and, in addition thereto, to provide a novel head or end closure which is hingedly supported for quick opening and closing and through the hinges of which connections for continuous delivery and discharge of liquid to be heated may be insured.

The heat exchanger is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Fig. 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section of the heat exchanger.

Fig. 2 is an end view partially in section.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2;

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly Fig. 1, A indicates a cylindrical elongated housing which may be constructed of steel, cast iron, or any other suitable material. Formed latone end of the housing is an annularflange 2 and secured thereto by bolts 3, or other suitable 36 means, is a tube sheet 4. Slidably mounted on the opposite end of the housing is a floating head member 5.' This head member is circular in shape and angular in cross section. It forms a support for a second tube sheet 4a, said tube sheet being secured by bolts 6, or the like. Secured between the tube sheets 4 and 4a are a plurality of tubes '7. These tubes are preferably constructed of copper, or like material, hence if the housing is constructed of steel and the tubes of copper the difference in coefficient of expansion between the same is considerable. It is for this reason that the floating head 5 has been provided for the support of the tube sheet 4a. By providing the floating head free expansion and contraction of the tubes 7 can take place without throwing any stress or strain on the housing, or the tube sheets.

Inasmuch as the tubes 7 are heated by steam,

or a similar medium, admitted-through the connection shown at 8 under pressure, considerable leakage might occur between the floating head and the housing and a seal in the form of a flexible ring 9, which is S-shaped in cross section, is employed. The sealing member is secured at one end to an annular flange 10 formed on the housing by means of a clamping ring and bolts 11 and the opposite end is secured to the tube sheet 4a by a clamping ring and bolts 12. The joints'formed by the bolts 11 and 12 and the cooperating clamping rings are leak-proof and any pressure desired may thus be employed. The floating head 5 and the annular sealing ring 9 employed are fully disclosed and described in my former Patent Number 1,626,869, previously referred to, hence a brief description thereof is thought suiiicient.

In the operation of heat exchangers of the character here disclosed accessibility for inspection, cleaning, sterilizing, repair, etc., is exceedingly important, as the apparatus must be thoroughly cleaned, inspectedand sterilized at least once during each twenty-four hours of operation. To promote such accessibility and to facilitate repairs the tube sheets have been made removable and renewable so that if either sheet should cracker become otherwise impaired it may be removedby merely releasing the bolts3 or 12. To facilitate accessibility forcleaning, inspection, and so on, hingedly supported heads, such as indicated at B and C, are. provided. The head C is hingedly supported on lugs welded on the clamping ring which cooperates with the bolts 12 and it is secured, when closed, by a plurality of wingnuts 14 and bolts 15 which are pivotally secured to the clamping ring. To open the head C it is only necessary to loosen .the wing nuts 14 and then to swing the bolts 15 radially and outwardly on their pivots, and when this is done the head may be swung outwardly about the hinges thus exposingthe tube sheets and the tubes for cleaning and inspection, etc., and also permitting cleaning of the interior surfaces of the head. The inner surface of the head, by the way, is provided with transverse ribs 16 which divide the inner surface of the head C into three compartments indicated at 17, 18 and 19. The function of these compartments will later be described.

The head B is substantially ,identical in construction to the head 0. The inner surface is provided with three transverse ribs, indicated at 20, which divide the inner surface of the head into four compartments, indicated at 21, 22, 23 and 24. The head is secured, when closed, by means of wing nuts and bolts similar to those shown at 14 and 15 and a hinge structure is provided to pro.-

mote opening and closing of the head. The hinge structure differs from the hinge structure employed in connection with the head and is constructed as follows: Suitably secured to the annular flange 5 2 of the housing are a pair of bracket plates, generally indicated at 25 and 26. Formed integral with said brackets are stufling boxes 27 and 28 to receive a packing 29, and movable into and out of the stuffing boxes are packing glands 30, 31, which are secured by bolts 32 and 33. Cast integral with the head B are a pair of tubular extensions 34 and 35, and welded, or otherwise secured, in each extension is an elbow member 3636a. The opposite ends of the elbow members extend through the stuffing boxes and glands indicated at 28, 29, 30 and 31, and the packing indicated at 27' forms a seal or tight joint about each elbow. The elbow indicated at 36 forms the inlet connection for the liquid to be heated and the elbow indicated at 36a the outlet or discharge connection. Permanent pipe connections may be made at the points indicated at 38 and 39, and as the elbows may swivel in the respective packing glands, they function as hinges about which the door or head member B may be swung to open or closed position. Each head or end closure, indicated at B and C, may be provided with a packing gasket 40 and when the heads are closed a tight joint may be maintained.

In actual operation when the heat exchanger is in use steam, or another suitable fluid medium, is admitted through the connection 8 and in flowing over the tubes 7 heats the same, the condensate produced being discharged through a connection indicated at 42. 1 Milk, or other liquid, to be heated enters through the elbow connection 36, which communicates with the compartment 21, it then flows through the tubes 7 in compartment 1'7 and from the lower tubes of said compartment back into compartment 22, and then from the lower tubes of this compartment the liquid flows into compartment 18, then back into compartment 23, then into compartment 19, and finally back into compartment 24, which communicates with the elbow connection 36a. The liquid here discharges and is conveyed by permanent pipe connections to any point desired. After a run has been made and it is desired to clean and sterilize the apparatus, it is only necessary to release the wing nuts 14 and swing the bolts 15 radially outwardly free from the lugs on the respective heads. Each head closure B and C may then be opened and the tubes in the interior face of the heads may be thoroughly cleaned and sterilized. Special metals may be employed, such as stainless steel, or the like, and corrosion and wear reduced to a minimum.

In order to relieve the ends of the respective elbow members 36 and 36a of the entire weight of the door, collars such as indicated at 46 are welded, or otherwise secured, on the respective elbows. These collars engage the end of the stufl'ing boxes 27 and 28 and secure the elbows and door B against vertical movement, also collar 46 on elbow 36a takes all the vertical thrust produced by the weight of the door or enclosure B.

Due to the fact that separate tube sheets are employed and that they are readily removable, repair is quickly and readily accomplished if cracks or other defec s develop. In fact, all parts are accessible and renewable and are easily and quickly manipulated during operation of the apparatus.

While certain features of the present invention are more or less specifically described, I Wish it understood that various changes may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims. Similarly, that the materials and finish of the several parts employed may be such as the manufacturer may decide, or varying conditions or uses may demand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In a heat exchanger a cylindrical housing having an open end, a closure for said open end, said closure being formed with inlet and outlet ports, a fluid conduit connecting with each of said ports, and a swivel joint in each of said conduits whereby the closure may be swung to and away from the opening at the end of the housing, said swivel connections supporting the weight of the end closure.

2. In a heat exchanger of the character described a housing having an opening formed in one end thereof, a closure for said opening, said closure having a pair of ports formed therein for the circulation of fluid through the housing, a pair of brackets supported by the housing, a stufiing box carried by each bracket, a pair of elbow members secured to the end closures and communicating with the respective inlet and outlet ports formed therein, said elbow members aligning with and extending into the stuffing boxes, said elbow members forming hinges about which the end closure may be swung to and away from the open end of the housing, and permanent fluid conduits connected with the respective stufiing boxes whereby liquid may be circulated through the respective elbow members, the communicating ports and the housing.

3. In a heat exchanger of the character described a housing having an opening formed in one end thereof, a closure for said opening. said closure having a pair of ports formed therein for the circulation of fluid through the housing, a pair of brackets supported by the housing, a stufiing box carried by each bracket, a pair of elbow members secured to the end closures and communicating with the respective inlet and outlet ports formed therein, said elbow members aligning with and extending into the stufiing boxes, said elbow members forming hinges about which the end closure may be swung to and away from the open end of the housing, permanent fluid conduits connected with the respective stufilng boxes whereby liquid may be circulated through the respective elbow members, the communicating ports and the housing, and means on the lower elbow for supporting the weight of the end closure.

4. In a heat exchanger of the character described a housing having an opening formed in one end thereof, a closure for said opening, said closure having a pair of ports formed therein for the circulation of fluid through the housing, a pair of brackets supported by the housing, a stuffing box carried by each bracket, a pair of elbow members secured to the end closures and communicating with the respective inlet and outlet ports formed therein, said elbow members aligning with and extending into the stumng boxes, said elbow members forming hinges about which the end closure may be swung to and away from the open end of the housing, permanent fluid conduits connected with the respective stufiing boxes whereby liquid may be circulated through the respective elbow members. the communicating ports and the housing, and a collar on each elbow and abutting the ends of the boxes and their other ends extending into the inlet and outlet ports of the end closure, stufling glands cooperating with the stufling boxes to compress a. packing around the respective elbow members to form a seal but permitting rotation of the elbow members in the stufling boxes so that the end closures may be opened or closed with relation to the end closure of the housing, permanent fluid conduits connected with the stuffing glands to admit and discharge fluid.

EDWARD M. ODONNEIIL. 

